Container



Feb. 26, 1963 l. s. CURRAN' ETAL CONTAINER 2 Sheets-$heet 1 Filed Aug.29, 1960 INVENT irl Feb. 26, 1963 l. s. CURRAN ETAL 3,078,989

' CONTAINER Filed Aug. 29, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i l 1. A l Y Q11] 1United States Patent Oiitice 3,978,989 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,078,989CONTAHIER Irene S. Curran, Metuchen, and Carmine Glielmi, Rivervale,N..I., and Michael Lafortezza, Bronx, N.Y., as-

signors to Personal Products Corporation, a corporation of New JerseyFiled Aug. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 52,557 4 Claims. (Cl. 29665) Thisinvention relates to paperboard or cardboard packages, boxes or cartonsand more particularly to one having a design and shape which may beimmediately identified with the product contained therein.

In the present art of sanitary napkins, recourse has been made to acontour design which tends to fit closely to the curve of the body andit is with this type of napkin that the instant invention is concerned.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a package forcontoured sanitary napkins that will maintain the contour shape intactand also provide through the use of the new package shape andconstruction a means for product identification.

The package may be made of two different designs, both of which providearcuate shaped tops and ends. In one design, both the top and bottom ofthe package as well as both ends are arcuate in shape. The type andshape of package will of necessity control the manner in which thecontoured sanitary napkins are packed therein 50 as to insure retentionof their contoured shape.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in whichare set forth by way of illustration two specific embodiments-of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view' of a' contoured sanitarynapkin;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cardboard package blank before folding andassembling;

FIG. 3 is an end view of the assembled package showing three contouredsanitary napkins neatly stacked therein with the contour of the napkinmatching and fitting the contour of the package;

I FIG. 4is a side view of the assembled package and shows twelvecontoured sanitary napkins packed therein in four rows of three each;

FIG. 5 is atop view of the assembled package of FIG.

4- and clearly shows the arcuate shaped ends of the package;

- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled package and shows thegeneral shape of the whole package with its convex top and concavebottom and arcuate shaped ends;

FIG. 7 is a plan View of a cardboard blank form,

before folding and assembling, of another design of package;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the assembled package showing the concave topand three contoured sanitary napkins nested neatly therein and contouredto the top;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the assembled package and shows twelvecontoured napkins nested neatly therein in four rows of three each;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the assembled package of FIG. 9 and shows thefour rows of contoured napkins contained therein; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the package and shows the general shapeof the whole package with its concave top, convex ends and squarebottom.

In FIG. 1 the arcuate shape of the new contoured sani tary napkin X isclearly depicted with the tabs in open position being indicated indotted lines. In packing the contoured napkins in the packages, the endsare folded over onto the body, as illustrated by the solid lines, andthus make the napkin easier to handle and pack.

In FIG. 2 the scored and cut blank embodying the instant invention isdesignated generally as A.

As shown, the blank A is of a generally rectangular shape, including abody portion which is adapted to be folded and sealed into a tubularform and which is provided with suitable closure flaps for contouring ateach end thereof. Referring now to FIG. 2 in more detail, the bodyportion of the blank comprises bottom and top panels It} and I2 and sidewall panels 11 and 13, the respective panels being separated from oneanother by suitable score lines in the usual manner. narrow attachingflap'26 is connected to the side panel 13 and thus provides the meansfor securing the package in tubular form during the setting up andassembling of the package.

The top panel 12 is shown provided with arcuate shaped end flaps 18 and24 which are formed as a result of arcuate shaped scores 27 and 23 andarcuate trimmed edges 29 and 29a. The side walls 1-1 and 13 are providedwith side fiaps I7, 19, 23 and 25 with their outboard edges suitablyarcuately contoured'to fit the concave bottom. The bottom panel Iii isprovided with trifurcated arcuate shaped and scored flaps 14, I5 and 16on one end and 2t 21 and 22 on the opposite end. The center flaps I5 and21 areprovided with an arcuate shaped cut end to provide a spacer andcontour means which when folded up into the convex top.

In assembling the package. the body portion is first folded into tubularform and adhesively secured in such form by means of the attaching flap25 which is glued In'closin the ends of the package, the side flaps 17,

place will match the radius of I9, 23 and 25 are folded into closedposition first, then the trifurcated end flaps Id, I5, 16, 20, 21 and 22contained on the bottom It} are folded into closed position, the flaps15 and 21 providing a contouring and spacing means at either end of thepackage to properly space the top 12 in relation to and contoured to thebottom It The two arcuate shaped end flaps 13 and 24 contained on thetop '12 are then folded into place and form the means for contouring thepackage to result in a convex top and concave bottom having concave.ends wit radii that match the radii of the sanitary contoured napkins.

It can thus be seen thata package is obtained that will readily matchthe contour of the napkins and will prevent said contoured napkins frombeing flattened out and in addition provide a package that may bereadily identified with the product contained therein.

In FIG. 3 is depicted an end ,view of the assembled package having aconvex top and concave bottom with three contoured sanitary napkinsstacked therein.

In FIG. 4 is depicted a side view of the assembled package with concavetop and ends and convex bottom with four stacks of three each of thecontoured sanitary napkins contained therein.

In FIG. 5 is depicted atop view of the assembled package with concaveends and with four stacks of three Another design of the instantinvention is disclosed in FIG. 7. As shown, theblank-B is of generallyrec- A relatively.

tangular shape, including a body portion which is adaptedto'befolded'and sealed 'into a tubular form and which is provided withsuitable closure flaps at each end thereof. The body portion of theblank comprises top and bottom panels 33 and 31 and side wall panels 30and 32, 'the respective panels being separated one from'another bysuitable score lines in the usual roanner. A relatively narrow attachingflap 34 is connected to the'top panel 33 and thus'provides the meansforsecuring the package in tubular form during the setting up of thepackage.

' The top panel 33 is shown'providedwith-bifurcated suitably shaped endflaps 38, 39, 43 and 44, said flaps being so contoured and cut as toallow the top 33 to be arcuately bent inwardly. The sides 30 and 32 areprovided with end flaps35, 37, 40 and '42 with their sides suitablycontoured and arcuately formed to fit the convex top. The bottom 31 isprovided with two suitably shaped end flaps 36and 41 having theiroutside edges 48 and 47 arcuately shaped inward to form the basis forproviding the concave top upon assembly and containing fastening tabs 49and 50 thereon.

Inas'sembling the package, the body portion is first folded intothetubular form and adhesivelysecured in such form bymeansof attaching flap34 which is glued to the side 30.

' In closing the ends ofthe package, the side flaps 35, 37, 40 and 42are'folded into closed position and then the bifurcatedend flaps 38, 39,43 and 44 containedon 'thetop 33 are folded into closed position. Due totheir shape, the end flaps 38, 39, '43 and 44 will provide a spacing andcontouring means for the convex top'33, so that when the endflaps'36 and41 of the bottom 31-are folded into place-the top 33 will be contoureddownward to form a concave top with convex ends at the top side andstraight ends at the bottom side. The small tabs 49 and50 formed on theoutside faces of the end flaps 36 -and 41 are to provide a meansforanchoring-the ends in place whenthey-arein position.

"In' FIG. 8 is depicted an end view of the assembled package having astraight bottom and a concave top with three sanitary contoured napkinsstacked therein.

"In FIG. 9 is depicted a side view of the assembled packagewithareuatecontoured top ends 45 and 46 and a straight bottom. It will benoted the package contains four stacks of three eachof-thecontouredsanitary napkins.

In FIG. is depicted a top View of the assembled package with the arcuatecontoured ends 45 and 46 and thestra'igh't bottom. Here again it will benoted the package contains four stacks ofthecontoured napkins.

In FIG. 11 is -depicted an isometric projection of the assembled packageand againclearly shows the readily distinguishable shape that has beencreated to make a product more readily identifiable and -still I bestacked, piledandshipped without "any damage to the-product containedtherein.

It will now bo-clear that theinstant invention was conceived with the-view of making a-packagethat is contoured-so as to hold-the contouredsanitary napkins contained=therein in -th'ei'rproper shape without thepossibility of distortion and in addition provide a positive means ofproductidentificationby the exclusive shape of the package with theshape of the product.

What is, claimed is: a a

1 A -contour package containing a supply :of contouredsanitary napkins,each of said napkins being of arcuate shapein a lengthwise 'directionand presenting aconcavely curved inner face and a-correspondingconvexlycurved outer face, and said napkins being arranged in transverseparallel stacks with their convexly curved outer facesin contact withtheir concavely curved inner faces, and said package being made from aflat one-piece blank of paper board or the like, trimmed and scored andfolded into a six-sided tubular body having top and bottom panels of thesame length and rectangular side panels which space apart the top andbottom panels, one of said top and bottom panels being arched inwardlyand forming aconcave span from one sidepanel to the other and conformingto the concavely curved inner faces of the napkins,-said inwardly archedpanel'being formed at its maintain said panels in spaced relation, andthe top or closure flaps of the inwardly arched panel and having an.

bottom panel opposite theinwardly arched panel being formed at itsopposite ends with inwardly turned closure flaps arranged in pliedrelation to the'inwardly turned arcuate shaped outer edge conformingsubstantially to the concave curvature of the inwardly arched paneland'side edges conforming substantially to the straight parallel sidepanels, and a flapfor attaching one of the side panels a to one of thetop and bottompanels along their adjacent imparted to the package and byassociating the shape edges to hold all four panels inftubular form,said attaching flap being formed on one'of said panelsand turnedinwardlyand glued or otherwise secured to the other panel.

2. A contour package according to claim l'wherein the scored lines forthe closure flaps of both top and bottom panels are curved inwardlytoproduce concave ends on the package when the flaps are folded inwardly.

3. Acontour packageaccording to claim 1, wherein 1 the scored lines forthe closure flaps, ofboth the; top-and bottom panels are curved'outwardly-toproduce convex ends on the package when the flaps arefolded inwardly. 4. A contour package containing a supplyof contouredsanitary napkins, each of said napkinsbeingof' arcuate shape in alengthwise direction and presenting a concavely curved inner face and acorresponding convexly curved outer face, and said napkins beingarrangedin transverse parallel stacks'with their convexly curved outerfaces incontact with their concavely curved inner faces, and said package beingmade from a fiat one-piece blankof paper board or the'like, trimmed andscored and folded into a six-sided-tubular body having top and bottompanels of the same length and rectangular side panels which space apartthe top and bottom panels, one of said top andbottorn panels beingarched inwardly-and forming a-concave span from one side panel to theother and conforming to the concavely curved inner faces of the napkins,and the other of said panels being arched outwardly and forming a convexspan from one side panel to the other and conforming to the convexlycurved outer faces of the napkins, said inwardly arched panel'beingformedat its opposite ends with inwardly turned closure flaps which aretapered and split into sections permittingtheinward arching of saidpanel and which present an outer profiled edge conforming substantiallyto the opposing outwardly arched panel and serving to maintain saidpanels in spaced relation, and the outwardly arched panel being formedat'its opposite ends with inwardly turned closure flaps arranged a inpliedrelation to the inwardly turned closure flaps of the inwardlyarched panel and having an arcuately shaped opter edge conformingsubstantially to the concave curvature of the inwardly arched panel andside edges conforming substantially to the straight parallel sidepanels, and

a the rectangular parallel side panels being formed at their oppositeends with inwardly turned closure flaps which present profiled sideedges conforming substantially to the top and bottom panels and likewiseserving to maintain said panels in spaced relation, and a flap forattaching one of the side panels to one of the top and bottom panelsalong their adjacent edges to hold all four panels in tubular form, saidattaching flap being formed on one of the attached panels and turnedinwardly and glued or otherwise secured to the other panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSFOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Aug. 15, 1957

1. A CONTOUR PACKAGE CONTAINING A SUPPLY OF CONTOURED SANITARY NAPKINS,EACH OF SAID NAPKINS BEING OF ARCUATE SHAPE IN A LENGTHWISE DIRECTIONAND PRESENTING A CONCAVELY CURVED INNER FACE AND A CORRESPONDINGCONVEXLY CURVED OUTER FACE, AND SAID NAPKINS BEING ARRANGED INTRANSVERSE PARALLEL STACKS WITH THEIR CONCAVELY CURVED INNER OUTER FACESIN CONTACT WITH THEIR CONCAVELY CURVED INNER FACES, AND SAID PACKAGEBEING MADE FROM A FLAT ONE PIECE BLANK OF PAPER BOARD OR THE LIKE,TRIMMED AND SCORED AND FOLDED INTO A SIX-SIDED TUBULAR BODY HAVING TOPAND BOTTOM PANELS OF THE SAME LENGTH AND RECTANGULAR SIDE PANELS WHICHSPACE APART THE TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS, ONE OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM PANELSBEING ARCHED INWARDLY AND FORMING A CONCAVE SPAN FROM ONE SIDE PANEL TOTHE OTHER AND CONFORMING TO THE CONCAVELY CURVED INNER FACES OF THENAPKINS, SAID INWARDLY ARCHED PANEL BEING FORMED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDSWITH INWARDLY TURNED CLOSURE FLAPS WHICH ARE TAPERED AND SPLIT INTOSECTIONS PERMITTING THE INWARD ARCHING OF SAID PANEL AND WHICH PRESENTAN OUTER PROFILED EDGE CONFORMING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE OPPOSING TOP ORBOTTOM PANEL AND SERVING TO MAINTAIN SAID PANELS IN SPACED RELATION, ANDTHE RECTANGULAR SIDE PANELS BEING FORMED AT THEIR OPPOSITE ENDS WITHINWARDLY TURNED CLOSURE FLAPS WHICH PRESENT PROFILED SIDE EDGESCONFORMING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE TOP AND BOTTOM PANELS AND LIKEWISESERVING TO MAINTAIN SAID PANELS IN SPACED RELATION, AND THE TOP ORBOTTOM PANEL OPPOSITE THE INWARDLY ARCHED PANEL BEING FORMED AT ITSOPPOSITE ENDS WITH INWARDLY TURNED CLOSURE FLAPS ARRANGED IN PLIEDRELATION TO THE INWARDLY TURNED CLOSURE FLAPS OF THE INWARDLY ARCHEDPANEL AND HAVING AN ARCUATE SHAPED OUTER EDGE CONFORMING SUBSTANTIALLYTO THE CONCAVE CURVATURE OF THE INWARDLY ARCHED PANEL AND SIDE EDGESCONFORMING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE STRAIGHT PARALLEL SIDE PANELS, AND AFLAP FOR ATTACHING ONE OF THE SIDE PANELS TO ONE OF THE TOP AND BOTTOMPANELS ALONG THEIR ADJACENT EDGES TO HOLD ALL FOUR PANELS IN TUBULARFORM, SAID ATTACHING FLAP BEING FORMED ON ONE OF SAID PANELS AND TURNEDINWARDLY AND GLUED OR OTHERWISE SECURED TO THE OTHER PANEL.